Boiler



INVENT OR. )fx//u/A/r/zf Au f/v BY W. H. ALLEN BOILER Filed Oct. 6, 1959Feb. 28, 1961 BOILER William H. Allen, 2201 Riverside Ave., Jacksonville4, Fla.

Filed Oct. 6, 1959, Ser. No. 844,720

2 Claims. (Cl. 122-183) This invention relates to boilers and moreparticularly to steam and hot water boilers.

A general object is to provide a boiler in which the feed water isheated by the combustion gases prior to the entry of the water into thesteam or hot water generation chamber.

In particular it is an object of the invention to provide a boiler whichis highly eillcient in operation because the available heat content ofthe gases of combustion is fully utilized and which is simple inconstruction and thereby substantially free of maintenance problems.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of thisinvention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its organization and method ofoperation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, maybest be understood by reference to the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional s-ide elevational view of a generallycylindrically shaped boiler according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view along the line 2-2 of Fig. lillustrating means which are provided for gaining access to the steamgeneration chamber; and

Fig. 3 is -a fragmentary sectional top view alongthe line 3-'3 of Fig. lillustrating a baille arrangement incorporated in the boiler.

With particular reference to Fig. l, the boiler is generally cylindricalin shape and is designated in the drawings at 1. It includes acombustion chamber 2 in which there is a Zone 17 in which fuel isburned, an internal radiation chamber 3 in which is primary radiationzone 33, a water chamber 4, which has a steam retaining top portion 19,and an external radiation chamber 5.

rlhe combustion chamber 2 is generally cylindrical in shape and has anopen top portion 6 which opens directly into the open bottom portion ofthe internal radiation chamber 3. The combustion chamber 2 is providedwith a thick cylindrical wall 7 which is composed of suitable Y 2,9?@85Patented Feb. 25, 1951 sageway through which the combustion gasesproceed downwardly from the top of the radiation zone to passageway 22,the latter passageway serving as a conduit which communicates with theinternal and external radiation zones, 38 and 40, respectively.

Steam or hot water is produced in the water chamber 4. Chamber 4 iscomposed of two concentrically arranged cylindrical shells 11 and 12,the former of which isdisposed concentrically within the latter. Theinner shell 11 is provided with a hemispherical top portion 13 whichserves as a fire dome for the internal radiation chamber 3. The outershell 12 is provided with a top hemispherical portion 19 which may serveas a steam dome beneath which the steam collects. The bottom portions,13 and 14, of shells, 11 and 12, respectively, are joined by an annularplate 15 which provides a watertight joint at the base of the shells.The shells are suitably mounted in an annular recess 16 which surroundsthe cavity 17 in the combustion chamber 2. Shell 11, in addition tofunctioning as a portion of the water chamber 2, denes the internalradiation chamber 3, and the major portion of the heat transfer from thecombustion gases to the water takes place through the walls of shell 11.

The external radiation chamber 5 surrounds the internal radiationchamber 3 above the combustion chamber 2 and includes the shell 12 and athird cylindrical shell 2t) which is concentrically disposed relative toshell 12 and which forms a casing that encloses the principal members ofthe boiler. Casing 20 is suitably mounted surroundingly on and about thevwall '7 of the combustion chamber 2, and extends upwardly therefrom toa ilat refractory material and is further provided with a thickrefractory bottom portion 8 that underlies the cup shape cavity orcombustion zone 17 and which is formed integrally with the wall 7. Aburner 35 is disposed centrally in the cavity, and oil or othercombustible material is supplied to the burner through pipe 36 by meansof pump 37. Pipe 36 extends through wall 7. Immediately adjacent the topportion of the cup shape cavity 17 and at one side thereof as viewed inFig. l is an upstanding outwardly convexed refractory portion 9 on whichis mounted an upstanding and outwardly convexed metal plate 10 bowinginto the combustion zone and away from the wall 7. Refractory portion 9and plate 10 serve as a baille 1S which because of its disposition inthe zone 38 causes the combustion gases to be retained in the zone38 foran adequate period and to circulate sut'nciently therein. As seen inFig. 3 the baille 18 is contiguous along its sides with shell 11 andprovides, together with the adjacent wall portion of shell 11, apascircular enclosing top portion 21 which extends over the zonesexisting in the respective chambers. The external radiation chamber 5and the internal radiation chamber 3 are interconnected by means of gaspassageway 22 which extends through shells 11 and 12 at the bottom ofthe radiation zones adjacent the rcombustion chamber. The lower portionof the casing 26 is provided with an internal cylindrical refractorylining 23 which is integral with and extends upwardly from therefractory wall 7 of combustion chamber 3. Lining 23 terminates upwardlyspacedly below the top portion 21 of the outer shell or casing 20. Abovethe refractory lining 23 the casing 20 'has another internal cylindricallining 24 which may be composed of less expensive refractory materialssuch as asbestos millboard. lop 21 is also provided with an p insulatedlining 39 which is preferably composed of as- 4t). Tube 25 is woundtightly around shell 12 in the form of a helix and extends upwardly fromits connection with pipe 32 to aa point at which water inlet pipe 33 isconnected thereto. Pipe 33 enters the water chamber 4 through the shell12 immediately below the steam dome 19 and discharges the waterdownwardly in the chamber adjacent to the inside of shell 12. Tube 25 isattached to the shell 12 by means of bands, such as band 27, whichsurround the tube and hold it contiguous to shell 12 yet permit the tubeto move longitudinal when expanding and contracting.

Tube 25, in Iaddition to being Wound tightly around the shell 12 is ofsuch diameter as to be contiguous with linings on the inside of casingZtl. Because of this the gases from the primary radiation zone 38, uponentering the external radiation chamber 5 through passageway 22, arecaused to take a helical path around the shell 12 in proceeding upwardlyin the secondary radiation zone 40 for final discharge from the boilerthrough llue pipe atar/assesV 28. Flue pipe 2S is located at and extendsthrough the top portion 21 of casing 20.

Boiler 1 is also provided with `an auxiliary lue pipe connection 29which may be employed in lieu of pipe 28 where a laterally extendingflue connection is desired. As shown in Fig. l the auxiliary iiue pipe29 is located adjacent the top 21 and is sealed -by means of a coverplate 41 which is held in place by a suitable spring mechanismdesignated at 42, thereby serving as a safety relief plate for relievingexcess pressure in the gas charnbers.

I Steam outlet pipe 43 is provided at the top of the boiler 1 andcommunicates with the steam chamber 4 by passing through the top 21 ofcasing 20V and through steam dome 19.V Pipe 44 also communicates withthe Water chamber through steam dome A19 and is connected to a suitablerelief valve 45 for automatically Venting steam from the chamber 4 whenthe steam pressure therein exceeds a predetermined value.

' The level of the water in the steam generation chamber 4 isautomatically regulated by an externally located water level controldevice 46. The device 46` is located at substantially the same level asthe water in chamber 2 and is connected through interconnecting pipes 47and 4S to the bottom of the steam chamber 4, pipe 48 being so disposedas topass through an outer portion of the Wall 7 and to communicate withthe water chamber 4 adjacent plate 15. Pipe 49 is alsokconnecteddirectly to the level control device 46 and` extends upwardly therefromto enter the boiler 1 through the top of shell 26, and to thereincommunicate with the steam zone i) in the water chamber 4 by passingthrough steam dome 19. By means of these connections with the waterchamber, the level of the water in the device 46`is always maintained atthe same as the level in chamber 4. As such the operation of device 46is in response to the level of water in water chamber 4.

The level control device 46 is connected to a suitable source ofelectricity and is electrically oontrollingly connected to the Waterpump 30 and to the fuel pump 37 by means of wires 51 and 52,respectively. Pumps` 30 and 37 respond to the device in accord with thesensed level of the Water in chamber 2. As the'level of water fallsinchamber 2, pump 3i) is activated by the device 46V whereby water ispumped in to water chamber 4` through pipe 32 and boiler tube 25. Thesupply offfuel to burner 35 is also regulated in response to thedevice46. `Fuel pump 37 responds to the device 46 and is shut off or regulatedto operate at a slower speed when the water level falls below apredetermined sensed level in chamber 4. The converse is true when thesensed levell of the water in chamber 4increases. above a predeterminedlevel.

` As is apparent to those skilled in theart, sludge and otherundesirable matter continuously` collects on the surface of the' waterin the boiler during operation unless distilled water is employed forgenerating the steam. It is contemplated that the boiler` describedherein will, normally, be employed with tap water and'accordingly asmall pipe 53 isprovided for continuously removing the sludgegfrom thesurface of the waterin chamber 4. The inlet 54 to pipe 53,is disposedjust below the surface of the water in chamber 2 and passes outwardlythrough the shell 12 by way of the same opening utilized for pipe 33from whence Vit passes through the side Wall of tube 25 and throughcasing 29 to a throttle valve 55 and sediment trap 56. From the sedimenttrap the Water is discharged to a drain through valve 57. It will beunderstood that valves 55 and 57'are open during normal operation of theboiler and thereby control the continuous removal of small amounts ofwater from adjacent the surface in chamber 2 together with the sludgecontained therein. To facilitate the passage of pipe 53 through casing20 and into tube 25, a laterally extending I 4 Iand opens through thewall of tube 25. Pipe 53, being of smaller diameter than pipe 58 isconcentrically mounted therein and passes externally of the pipe throughend plug 59 in pipe 58.

Additionally the removal of surface sludge from the surface of the waterin chamber 4 may be accomplished by periodically draining the surfacesludge from the chamber through the inlet water tube 25 While the boileris under steam pressure. For accomplishing this periodic removal of thesludge, pipe 64 and valve 65 are provided. Pipe 64 is connected to thewater feed pipe 32 between the valve 31 and the connection of pipe 32with tube 25. Valve 65 controls the flow through pipe 64. Valve 31 isclosed for effecting the sludge removal in accord with this method andvalve 65 is opened. This will permit the head of steam in chamber 4 toforce the surface water out through pipe 33 and into tube 25 from whencethe sludge will be discharged from valve 65 through interconnectingpipes 64 and 32. Thereafter valve 65 may -be closed, valve 31 opened andnormal operation of the boiler resumed.

Capped pipe 66 which communicates with the water chamber 2 just belowthe surface of the Water therein is also provided. By suitableattachments to pipe 60, hot Water may lbe withdrawn from the boiler whendesired. n

To permit flushing of the water chamber 4 and removal of loose scaleaccumulations at the bottom thereof, pipe 61 and associated valve 62 areprovided. Pipe 61 extends through the outer portion of wall 7 andlcornmunicates with the Water chamber 4 at the bottom thereof adjacentthe annular plate 15. Valve 62 is provided in the pipe 61 and it will beunderstood that valve 62 is normally closed when the boiler is inoperation, as is valve 63 in pipe 48 which is located on theoppositeside of the boiler. When the boiler is not in use, the waterV chamberlfmayV be ilushed by opening valve 63 which is connected to pipe 48 andwater is pumped into the chamber through pipe 48. Valve 62 is open undersuch conditions and the water admitted to the chamber through pipe 48 isdischarged through pipe 61 and valve 62 together with any scale-andother material which have accumulated at the bottom of the chamber.

Pipe "/'2 is connected to plugged pipe 58 and has a valve 73 connectedthereto for purposes of being attached to a supply of acid when it lisdesirable to clean either tube 25v or the inside of chamber 4 with acid.To pass an acid solution through tube 25, valve 31 is closed and drainvalve 65 opened. Thereafter through open valve 73, the acid solution maybe pumped into pipe 58 from whence it will pass through tubeA 25, pipes32 and 64 and through valve 65 to thel drain. To pass the acid solutionthrough chamber 4, valves 65 and 31 are closed and valves 63 and/ or 62opened. This arrangement permitsthe acid solution to be directly pumpedinto pipe 72 through open valve 73 from whence it travels through l pipe58 across tube 25 and into the chamber 4 through pipe 58 is provided.Pipe 5S is mounted in casing 20 75 water inlet pipe 33. From chamber 4the acid solution is discharged through pipes 48 and 61 and theassociated valves 63 and 62 respectively.

As shown in Fig. 2, another conduit 66 is provided at the rear of theboiler for the purpose of affording access to the water chamber 4 formanually cleaning the water chamber. Conduit 66 communicates with thelower portion of the water chamber 4 Aby extending through an outerportion of the wall 7 of combustion chamber 2, a removable cover plate67 being provided over the external opening of the conduit to provide awatertight seal thereat when the boiler is inuse. Cover plate 67 isremoved when access to the chamber 4 is desired for cleaning purposes.

A suitable Weighted pressure relief door. 68 is also provided in casing20 for gaining access to the external radiation chamber as shownin Fig.l and for relieving excess gas pressure within the gas chambers of theboiler:

garages During the normal operation of the boiler il, all of the valvesshown in the drawing, except valves 31, 55 and 57 are closed and pumps37 and 30 are electrically actuated and controlled through level controldevice 46.`

As previously pointed out valves 55 and 57 are open and suitablythrottled to permit continuous removal of the surface sludge. Whereremoval of sludge is to be accomplished periodically by the alternativemethod described previously, valves 55 and 57,may be closed. When valve31 is open, and the water level in chamber 4 is below the predeterminedlevel regulated by device 46, the device 46 actuates pump 3l) and Wateris pumped into the water chamber 4i through pipe 32, helical tube 25 anddownwardly directed inlet pipe 53. The operation of pump 30 iscontrolled by water level control device 46 and as soon as the level ofwater in chamber 4 reaches the predetermined level pump 30 is shut oil.Device 46 also actuates fuel pump 37 through the electrical connections52 therewith. Fuel pump 37 may be controlled in accord with the same ora diilerent water level than that at which the water pump 30 iscontrolled by device 46. By a suitable ignition system, not shown, thefuel oil supplied by pump 37 to burner 35 is ignited and burned incombustion chamber 2. The gases resulting from the combustion of thefuel in burner 35 proceed upwardly from the burner 35 into the primaryradiation zone 38 in accord with the path shown generally by arrows 69.Upon reaching the lire dome area the gases then proceed generallydownwardly through the opening defined between the shell 11 and baille18 and toward opening 22 in accord with the path generally indicated byarrows 7l). A major portion of .the heat content of the combustion gasesis transmit-ted to the shell 1l by radiation as the gases pass throughchamber 3, the heat being in turn transmitted through the shell 11 byconduction to the water whereby steam is generated in chamber 4 andcolleotedbeneath the steam dome 19.

The gases, after having given up the major portion of their availableheat content in chamber 3, leave the chamber 3 through passageway 22,from which they proceed upwardly, in the generally helical pathindicated by arrows '71, through the external radiation chamber 5, fromwhich they are discharged through ilue pipe 2d. The balance of 'theavailable heat content of the combustion gases is given up principallyby radiation to the tube 25 and shell 12 as they pass upwardly to thellue in the generally helical path. Accordingly, the water in thechamber 4 is further heated by the gases through shell l2, and the inletwater is heated in tube 25.

By causing the gases to traverse a long helical path which is dened inpart by the tube through which the cold boiler water is fed, the gasesare caused to be exposed to a greater surface area through which heatmay be transmitted to the water than if permitted to pass directly tothe ilue and are so exposed for a long period of time. Also, the gasesdischarged into chamber 5 have a low heating potential as compared tothe heat potential of the gases in chamber 3, By exposing the gases o5low heat potential to the relatively cool surfaces of tube 25, the heatcontent of the gases is ellectively transmitted to the water therein.

The steam generated in chamber 3 collects beneath the steam dome 19 andis withdrawn through pipe 43, the level of the Water in the chamberbeing influenced in part by the rate of such steam withdrawal.Accordingly, as steam is withdrawn and more steam produced the level ofwater in chamber 4 recedes thereby causing the level of liquid in devicedo to recede and thus actuating pump 30 into supplying more water to thechamber Il.

It will be yapparent that pump 37 may be controlled by device 46 inaccord with a different water level than that utilized for controllingwater supply pump 3?. Thus water supply pump 30 may be controlled bydevice 46 to maintain a liquid level which is higher than the water allsuch modications as fall within the true spirit and scope of thisinvention.

What is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by LettersPatent of the United States is:

l. In a boiler, a combustion chamber having an upwardly opening cavity,a fuel burner disposed in said cavity, means for supplying fuel to saidburner, a Water chamber including a pair of concentrically arrangedcylindrical shells mounted on said chamber and adapted to retain waterand steam between the inner and outer of said pair of shells, saidshells having respective upper closure portions, a baille mounted onsaid combustion chamber adjacent said cavity and extending upwardly intothe inner of said shells, said baille having a top portion disposedspacedly below the upper portion of said inner shell and'side edgestherebelow which are contiguous with .the wall of said inner shell, saidbaille being spaced from said wall of said inner shell between saidsides and defining therewith a vertically extending passageway, anothercylindrical shell having an insulating lining concentrically arrangedaround and disposed spacedly outwardly of said outer shell therebydefining a vertically extending gaseous zone between said outer shelland said other shell, a llue pipe extending through said other shell andcommunicating with the upper end of said zone, a boiler water feed tubehaving an inlet end adjacent said combustion chamber and extendingtherefrom upwardly and helically around said outer shell and having anupper end communicating within said water chamber adjacently below saidupper portion of said outer shell, said tube being in contact with saidouter shell and with said other shell and defining a helical -gas pathbetween said outer shell and said other shell,

and conduit means connected to said lower end of said tube for passingwater into said tube, a second passageway extending through said shellsof said water chamber adjacent said combustion chamber andinterconnecting the lower end of said vertically extending passagewayand the lower end of said zone whereby hot gases produced by combustionin said cavity pass upwardly into said combustion chamber and thencedownwardly through said vertically extending passageway and from saidlower end thereof through said second passageway into the lower end ofsaid zone and thence upwardly through said helical gas path to saidupper end of said zone and into said ilue pipe.

2. ln a steam boiler, a cylindrical refractory combustion chamber havingan upper portion and having a cavity opening upwardly through said upperportion, said chamber having an annular recess spaced outwardly of andsurrounding said cavity in said upperv portion, a fuel burner disposedin said cavity for burning fuel to form hot gases, first conduit meansconnected to said burner for supplying fuel to said burner, a pair ofconcentrically arranged and radially spaced cylindrical shells havingrespective interconnected bottom portions disposed in said recesswhereby said gases pass into the inner of said baille being disposedwithin said inner shell and terminating upwardly therein spacedly belowthe hemia spherical portion of said inner shell, said side edges of saidbaille being joined to the cylindrical wall of said inner shell wherebysaid wall and baille deiine a vertically extending passageway having anupper openingk for receiving said gases in said inner shell, an outercylindrical cover shell mounted on said combustion chamber spacedlyoutwardly of and concentrically to said pair of shells, said outer covershell having a at circular top portion disposed spacedly above said pairof shells and a heat insulating lining whereby said outer cover shelland the outer one of said pair of shells deiine a gaseous zone, ahorizontal passageway extending through said water chamberinterconnecting said vertically extending passageway and said zonewhereby gases in said vertical passageway are admitted to said gaseouszone, a boiler tube disposed within said zone and pipe means connectedto said tube above said horizontal passageway for supplying boiler waterto said tube, said tube extending upwardly from said connection withsaid pipe means in a helix extending around and in contact with theouter face of the outer one of said pair of shells, said tubecommunicating within said water chamber be low the hemispherical upperportion of said one shell of said pair whereby water passed into saidtube is discharged into said water chamber, said tube being in contactwith the inner face of said outer cover shell and delining a helicalpath extending circuitously upwardly in said gaseous zone for thepassage of gases therethrough, an exterior flue pipe communicating withsaid zone above said tube for the withdrawal of said gases from saidzone, second conduit means extending through the hemispherical portionof said outer shell for withdrawing steam from said water chamber, andmeans responsive to the level of water in said water chamber forregulating the ow of water through said pipe and for regulating the owof fuel through said rst conduit means.

References rCited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

